Moto X4 and Its Shiny Self Gets a Hands-on Preview

The Moto X4, a phone thought to be a Q4 release to fill a void I’m not sure needed filling, found its way into the hands of a tester with an itchy camera finger. It posed for two pictures that give us the cleanest live shots of the mid-range-but-not-quite-mid-range Moto device.

These new photos aren’t necessarily telling us anything new from the previous 2 or 3 leaks, but this could be a first look at the blue version that’ll arrive alongside the black version later this year. The display looks very much edge-to-edge on the sides, and man, this thing is shiny as all hell.

Also, the guy who posted this (can anyone figure out what his name is? /s) is under the impression that Motorola used an LCD display in the phone. That’s disappointing to say the least, especially since Motorola has been a big fan of AMOLED displays in recent years. I also say that because LCDs struggle to get dark enough in dark settings, don’t show blacks deeply, and certainly seem to be a step behind the advancements that AMOLED has seen lately. For a phone supposedly teetering toward the mid-to-high-end, this seems like a downgrade.

Finally – and this is pure opinion on my part – that camera hump, puck thing on the back, needs to go. It’s time for a new design schtick, Moto. This phone almost looks sexy, but then that wannabe-Rolex-bezeled dual camera thingy almost melts your eye like a total solar eclipse with faux glasses sold to you by that legit vendor with the no-window cream-colored van in the back alley of Denny’s. Yikes.

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SVTCobra

I don’t know why they stick with the Z style when it can’t use the Mods. Looks awful.

s0uth

camera setup looks horrid.

Daishi

I just don’t get this design. Total departure from the Moto X designs of the past. Far worse than the 2015 Pure Edition. This is no Moto X. It is a midrange phone with the ‘X’ badge on it. Double “Meh…”

*looks at front of phone* not a bad looking device
*turns it over* WTF IS THAT THING?!?!?!?!

rebretz000

Looks like crap compared to that beautiful tan leather Moto X 2014.

Brian Cruz

It’s weird….now that I’ve got a good look at it, all i see is a Galaxy S7

Max Johnson

I might consider it without the weeaboo wallpaper.

Justin Bontrager

NOPE.

needa

Finally dug out the 2014 model I see. 🙂

ToddAwesome

Side note: Jerry’s G+ page, is, uh….interesting.

FreeLivin

UGH… that camera bump on the back is terrible if this is how it releases. Who in the right mind would think this is acceptable for when ppl set the device down is sit right on the camera and does not lie flat. And yes its a complaint of mine on other devices as well, but this is insanity do to the size of the bump. Can’t be flat on surface they can keep it as far as I’m concerned.

Michael Bassett

2005 in the front, 2015 in the back.

Cory S

The camera hump is the only unique thing about it…so if you don’t like that then what makes it “almost sexy” to you?

disastrousrainbow

Am I the only one who wishes this shift towards glass would just stop? Like, who really wants a glass device? In what fantastical world is that a glorious upsell?

“Hey, you know glass? The thing that makes up your cups, bowls, mirrrors, etc. that you see cracked and/or shattered all the time? Well how would you like the thing you carry around with you at all times, that’s in and out constantly from your pockets, and is prone to slipping/getting wedged between seats, crevices, etc. MADE out of it? Doesn’t that sound just GREAT?”

Like, seriously, someone figure out how to make wireless charging work through metal or something because that’s really the only reason why manufacturers are turning to it. Ugh.

Cory S

Qualcomm said 820 chips and higher had some magic sauce to do Qi charging through metal…but no one ever implemented it. I assume it is technically possible…but just not practical.

disastrousrainbow

I really wish someone would figure out a nifty little way. Like, maybe make the logo’s on the back like the G on the Pixel, Apple logo, or Samsung letters the only part that’s glass and somehow fit the wireless charging coils in just that area or something like that. I would literally die if someone took an ingenious step like that.

Good_Ole_Pinocchio

Right but what phone is that behind it?

And the camera hump is obviously left over from a time when they thought it was a good idea to have their camera hump match the moto 360 circle/flat tire design…. When they still sold watches. But I agree it doesn’t make sense anymore.

CF542

That phone under it looks like an old Blackberry.

Morriea

It is a Vertu.

imhowie

Ugly. The Moto X line has always fallen short for me. The first Moto X looked very nice visually, but the specs were crap and the screen was too small. Then the next Moto X came out with the specs that the original should have had, but a year late. After that, they started getting uglier until we’ve come to this. The line has failed year after year.

Racinx

Moto G5 Premium Edition.

If there was customization like with previous Moto X’s, I’d be more excited. But this just makes me sad. I hope it performs and least sells well.

Daishi

Yeah, if I had a choice between the two, I’d go with a G5 over the X4.

Aaron

Very disappointed thus far. I was pumped when I first heard the X was coming back and that it was coming Fi. Now with every leak I like it less and less…

Cael

MotoLenovo can keep it tbh

balcobomber25

What is that picture at the beginning? That back looks so fugly, reminds me of a LG G4, one of the fugliest phones ever made.

The X4 doesn’t so too bad too me, I like the looks (especially compared to the old moto’s) and I actually prefer LCD to AMOLED (I like both, but give the slight edge to LCD).

Cole

Older Moto x duh

red014

#NotMyMotoX

Good_Ole_Pinocchio

#NotMyPresident!…

Oh…. Sorry wrong subreddit.

Detonation

A long way removed from the 2013-2015 Moto X’s. Basically just another phone given the name for marketing so they could fill the gap between G and Z.

MichaelFranz

camera bump ughh…flush + more battery = win

disastrousrainbow

Bruh the black border around the screen is thicc…

Cakefish

Any Pixel 2 leaks?

CF542

Nothing verifiable but there’s no doubt now that the new Pixel will ship with Oreo.

mickeyB88

I’ve disliked the looks of pretty much every Lenvorola-designed phone in the last few years, this doesn’t win me over either. The only thing convincing me those phones were worth anything was the battery life on the moto z play, and they gimped the hell out of that, as well as the moto z force. Personal preference, I guess.

Tovoris Skinner

I like the phone! Nothing wrong with the camera to me! Great phone for wifey Birthday!

Duffman

Guess you don’t love your wife…

PoisonApple31

What’s love got to do, got to do with it?

Max Johnson

Not as bad as buying your wife a Samsung with a Snapdragon chipset.

sinfoman

#SHOTSFIRED

Josh Flowers

Can’t concentrate on the pictures — I can only hear the sound of that keyboard clacking.

Stop acting like the bezel is so bad, it isn’t. You probably never even used a Moto before. So far only a few phones in the US market are bezeless, and functionality wise it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Fanboy.

Zach P30

yeah some of the best camera phones only have single cameras, but with the x4 it’s most likely going to have a secondary wide-angle camera. i wouldn’t really call that a gimmick – everyone i’ve seen with a G6 loves that feature. keep in mind this phone isn’t even trying to be a high end phone, so….